Brave men run to raise awareness of cancer
Thousands of brave men and boys ran to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer in the annual Daredevil Run.
Brave men and boys made a very bold statement to cancer that ‘Ek is man genoeg’ which translates to ‘I am man enough’ written on their purple speedos during the annual Daredevil Run by Hollard. This was to depict they are brave enough to go toe-to-toe with cancer.
Even though the main event was held at Zoo Lake, men from Fourways flocked to the Dainfern Gold Estate to join 3,000 runners from across the country who took to the streets with CANSA, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and other organisations to raise awareness around the importance of male cancer screening and prevention.
According to CANSA, prostate cancer is predicted to be the most common cancer in South Africa, and one in six men is diagnosed with it as they grow older.
“Black African men have an estimated 60% higher risk of getting prostate cancer than any other race group. Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer are two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer themselves. The risk of prostate cancer begins to rise sharply after age 55 and peaks at age 70-74. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer can mean a 95% chance of being cured.
“A PSA blood test at your health care practitioner can take a couple of seconds and can potentially save your life. African men and men who have a family history of prostate and/or breast cancer in a first-degree relative need to get screened annually from the age of 40. All men over the age of 45 need to be screened annually,” said CANSA.
Head of group marketing at Hollard, Warwick Bloom, said the Daredevil Run has become a remarkable movement since its inception.
“We set out this year to achieve the biggest and bravest run to date, and we have achieved just that. This run goes from strength to strength each year, and we cannot be prouder,” said Bloom.
This year also saw more high schools taking part than ever before, and Fourways High was one of them.
“We are so proud of our boys who took part in this initiative for a good cause,” said the school’s marketing officer, Paula Agar.
“Many men may be reluctant to talk about health issues or seek professional help. This is why cancer is often diagnosed later and perhaps at a more advanced stage. Detecting and treating these cancers early means better futures for men and their families around the country,” said Bloom.
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